TRUCE?

It is Shabbat again (10/11) and I am looking out the window at an approaching thunderstorm rumbling away in the distance. 

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The Lord is over many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty

Psalm 29:3-4 

Now the first drops of rain are falling. How beautiful is the sound of rain on the Land. We have had a few thunderstorms this week and I hope it is just the beginning of a really good rainy season which will cleanse the Land, and fill the rivers, lakes and aquifers on which we all depend. Please keep praying for good rain, strong and steady, but not excessively so, for that can cause serious flooding and much damage. 

A rain storm over the  Sharon Plain from Bitan Aaron  2009
Copyright: Talia Voice

Yesterday flash floods again struck Jordan as heavy rain fell in desert areas. At least 13 people were killed and 3700 tourists had to be evacuated from the ancient city of Petra, one of Jordan's main tourist attractions. Searches for missing people continue (1). Three Israelis were among the missing but they have been found. This comes just two weeks after 21 people were killed, mainly children on a school outing, as they were swept away by flash floods in the same area. A State of Emergency has been declared in the area of Aqaba on the Red Sea and schools, universities and roads closed. The mountains on the eastern side of the Dead Sea (in Jordan) rise considerably higher than those of the western side of the Rift Valley (the Judean Hills) and therefore receive a much higher rainfall. 

On the same day around 50 Israeli hikers had to be rescued from the Negev because of flash flooding, in spite of many warnings not to go into the desert.  

This past week Hamas announced that it had reached a truce agreement brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the UN. They emphasized that Israel was not a party to the agreement.  It has been difficult to learn the exact terms of the ceasefire but it seems that in the short term the Gaza Strip will receive more medical supplies, its fishing zone will be extended to 16km (12 miles), and it will receive money from Qatar to pay public servants and for more electricity from Israel.  In addition, some 50,000 Gazans will be given permits to work in Israel. Over the next 6 months Hamas will endeavor to reduce the March of Return border protests and in return, Israel will undertake electricity, sewerage and water projects and open a sea route from Gaza to Cyprus (2) . 

A total of $US 90 million is to be transferred from Qatar to Gaza over the next 6 months to pay the salaries of civil servants and to aid the needy.  On Thursday this week the first monthly installment, $US15 in cash, was carried by Qatari Ambassador, Mohammed Al-Emadi, in suitcases via the Erez Crossing from Israel. According to the "Times of Israel,  "Qatar has also said it would hand out $100 to each of 50,000 poor families, as well as larger sums to Palestinians wounded in clashes along Gaza’s border with Israel"(3). Another $10 million were earmarked for electricity payments. This infusion of cash is intended to ease the suffering of Gazan people and defuse the border demonstrations, but apparently not all are happy about it. As Al-Emadi prepared to leave the strip some Gazan teens threw stones and smashed his bodyguard's car (4). A case of biting the hand that feeds you! 

The Qatari handout also evoked an angry reaction from Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. The PA is trying to wrest back control over the Gaza strip and some time ago had stopped the payment of the salaries and imposed strict sanctions on the Strip, in an effort to bring down the Hamas government. The Qatari handouts undermine his plans. 

Reaction to the so-called Truce Agreement here is mixed. Some are relieved that we are not going to war has been staved off for now, but others are skeptical, and still others are angry that it appears we have sold out to Hamas. 

Although I agree that something had to be done to ease the suffering of the Gazan population,  I  do feel that by allowing these concessions to Hamas, we are sending the wrong message. Essentially these concessions reward Hamas for the months of border violence we have suffered at their hands. No doubt they will see this as a victory. Already Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official told reporters that " Today, we see some fruits of the protests — the partial breaking of the siege on Gaza,” I am also skeptical that the violence will decrease significantly. Hamas has already let the genie out of the bottle. It will not be easy to stuff it back in!  

Yesterday the border violence continued although numbers are said to have decreased to only (!) about 12,000 protestors, compared to the around 16,000 the week before. Some of the 'protestors'  tried to attack IDF positions and sabotage the border fence. One Palestinian was shot dead and at least 37 injured as the IDF responded, according to the Gazan-run Health Ministry. Today a Gazan activist infiltrated through the border fence and entered an Israeli community and set fire to an agricultural greenhouse causing hundreds of thousands of shekels of damage (5).  

This week some 6,000 Israeli high school students from the Gaza perimeter communities marched the 90 km from the Gaza border to Jerusalem in order to protest the ongoing situation there and the failure of the government to protect them from the rocket fire and incendiary fires emanating from Gaza. Many of them have known nothing else but the constant threat of rocket attacks, and now also the incendiary fires. This is no way to grow up and many suffer ongoing trauma symptoms. 

The young people walked under banners saying "Let Us Grow Up in Peace"  and their journey took 5 days in often wet and miserable weather conditions. Many of their peers joined them along the way and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin greeted them as they entered Jerusalem with these words:

"How fortunate are the people whose youngsters march at its head, and happy are the parents who raised their children with such a feeling of national pride, of love of the country, of such a meaningful connection to our wonderful country. You are not the young people of the area around Gaza, you are the young people that embrace the whole country. We hear your call and it breaks our hearts. I promise you: we will not, and we must not, let the Code Red alarm become a routine. Red will remain the color of the wildflowers that grow in the area.”  (6)

Wildflowers in the Negev
Copyright: Talia Voice

Rivlin then walked the remaining distance with them to the Rose Garden opposite the Knesset building. One of the marchers, Roi Rahaf, a 12th Grade student from Kibbutz Miflasim explained, 

 “Our message is that we want change,”  “Ever since we were born we have been living between wars… The government has the power to change this, which is why we are marching to the Knesset. It is a march to arouse awareness regarding what is occurring in the Gaza vicinity, to tell our story of youth dealing with the difficult security situation. It is a long and enriching journey”(6). 

Participants in the  5-day, 90 km Youth March from Gaza to Jerusalem
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5392985,00.html

12 November

In the last two hours some 200 rockets have been fired into Israeli territory from Gaza. This is an ongoing action. Rockets are still falling and the situation far from clear.  What I do know is that two were injured, one seriously, when a rocket hit a bus. A mini-market is on fire after gas bottles outside it burst into flames, and a factory sustained a direct hit in Sderot and a house in Netivot was also hit and destroyed. Hamas has warned that unless Israel stops its operations in Gaza they will extend the range of rocket fire, and already this has happened with 'code red' sirens sounded in the Dead Sea region and in Ashkelon and Beer Sheva. A report is just coming in of a direct hit on a house in Ashkelon. The IDF reports that they have attacked some 30 military targets in the Gaza Strip, in a measured response. 

This latest salvo of rocket fire began at 5:40 this evening, just as people would have been coming home from work and shopping. This after a period of quiet since 1:40 AM. The current escalation began yesterday when a group of Israeli special forces entered Khan Yunis, a city in southern Gaza Strip, apparently on an intelligence gathering mission. Israeli often carries out such incursions but this time it went wrong. Hamas operatives spotted them and opened fire killing the officer in charge, Lt-Colonel M, and seriously injuring a second.  During the exchange of fire a senior Hamas officer and 6 other Hamas operatives were killed. With their vehicle damaged the Israeli soldiers destroyed it, and were forced to evacuate under fire and on foot. The Israeli Air Force provided cover. Amazingly they managed to reach Israeli territory bringing with them the body of Lt.Col. M and the injured soldier, thus preventing a situation in which Hamas would take hostages, always our worst fear.  

During the night some 17 rockets were fired into Israel by Hamas and Israel continued to attack targets in and around Khan Yunis. Around 1:40 AM all fell quiet. Schools in the south were closed for the day, the train line closed and some roads declared a closed military zone, but apart from that people cautiously returned to work, until this evening when this latest round of rocket fire began. 

The latest reports are that some 14 Israelis have been hospitalized with injuries, including at least one seriously, who still fighting for his life. The family dog was killed at one of the houses that was hit.  One young girl was hospitalized when her fingers were shut in the door of the bomb shelter, and others injured as they fell while running for the shelters.  These numbers could yet rise as reports are still coming in and the rockets continue to fall. 

What will happen in the coming hours is anyone's guess. Schools will remain closed and residents in the south have been instructed to stay in their bomb shelters or within 30 seconds of them.  Pray for God's mercy for all of us, Israelis and Gazans together. Is it too late to hope for peace?  Has the situation gone beyond the point of no return? If war breaks out, what will be the end result? Israel does not want to occupy Gaza but the situation cannot continue. There is increasing pressure on the government to solve the problem once and for all. But what would that involve? Israel does not want to occupy Gaza but the prophet Zephaniah prophesied of the time when Gaza would be returned to its rightful occupiers, the tribe of Judah.  Perhaps that time is drawing close.

In the day of the Lord’s anger.  For Gaza shall be forsaken,...The seacoast shall be pastures,With shelters for shepherds and folds for flocks.7 The coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah;

Zephaniah 2: 3-4, 6-7

Mayoral Elections in Jerusalem and Haifa

Earlier this month local body elections were held. According to the Law a winning candidate must win at least 40% of the votes, and if not a second round of elections must be held. In both Haifa and Jerusalem no candidate won more than 40% and consequently the second round will be held tomorrow. In Jerusalem the candidates are Moshe Lion and Ofer Berkovitch.  Lion has the support of the ultra-orthodox faction Shas and part of United Torah Judaism and has been accused of backroom dealing. Berkovitch has served years on the City Council with an unsullied record and has the support of the more secular population of the city (7). Please pray for the outcome of this crucial election. May God's will be done!

There are many things I could write about but as I want to get this published I will stop for now. 

Our Father in heaven,Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.Your will be doneOn earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6: 9-10 

References:

1. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/10/jordan-flash-floods-kill-eleven-and-forced-tourists-to-flee

2. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5395425,00.html

3. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-qatar-said-to-agree-to-sea-crossing-between-cyprus-and-gaza-strip/

4. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5394624,00.html

5. https://www.timesofisrael.com/palestinian-infiltrates-gaza-border-fence-nabbed-after-intense-manhunt/
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5395425,00.html

6. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5392985,00.html

7. https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-shock-lion-and-berkovitch-appear-headed-for-runoff-in-jerusalem

THE YOREH

The Yoreh (pronounced yor-ay) is the Hebrew word for the Early Rain, or the first rain of the winter rainy season. On Thursday night the eagerly-awaited Yoreh arrived here in Israel. After 6-8 months during which no rain falls in Israel, all its inhabitants, human, animal and plant, long for the thirst-quenching, cleansing rain. In an earlier, less sophisticated time, Israelis used to go out in the streets and dance for joy when the Yoreh arrived. Today I didn't dance but instead I took a walk in the forest and rejoiced in breathing the freshly scrubbed air, the blue, truly blue sky, and the green, really green trees. I don't know if trees have feelings but if they did, I can imagine how happy they would be to have all the dust washed from their leaves and fresh rainwater to drink. 

From Har Hauniversita - my forest walk today

The Yoreh also breaks the back of the summer heat. In Israel there are really only two seasons, the 6-8 month long summer and the short winter rainy season. I have lived nearly 40 years in Israel and every year I am still amazed afresh by how the seasons can switch in just a day, especially when the Yoreh comes. On Thursday the temperature here was still around 30 degrees Celsius but on Friday it was only 13 degrees. It won't stay that cool of course, and we will still get some very hot days, but the main heat of summer is now broken and from this point it will grow cooler and cooler.  

In the Bible, the timely arrival of the Yoreh and the Malkosh (the latter or spring rains) is linked with the blessing of God. We see it first spoken of in the Book of Deuteronomy where it is described as the provision given by God, for agricultural abundance in the Promised Land, conditional upon the keeping of his commandments by the people of Israel,

 ‘And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. 15 And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.’

Deuteronomy 11: 13-15

The prophet Joel also spoke of the early (or former) and latter rains, saying 

Be glad then, you children of Zion,And rejoice in the Lord your God;For He has given you the former rain faithfully,And He will cause the rain to come down for you—The former rain,And the latter rain in the first month.

Joel 2:23 

This passage is difficult to translate and interpret for in Hebrew the word here translated in the version quoted (NKJV), as former rain is not 'yoreh'  but 'moreh' in Hebrew. 'Moreh' comes from the same root but in this form it actually means 'teacher'  and it could be translated as " for He has given you the teacher of  (or for) righteousness, and he will cause the rain to come down for you, the teacher and the latter rain in the first month ". Some see this as speaking prophetically of the coming of the Messiah, the Teacher of Righteousness"  at the time of the latter rain or Malkosh. 

The coming of the Yoreh is a time of blessing but it can also be a time of danger. The first rains can be very heavy and the ground, baked like concrete over the summer, is impermeable leading to rapid runoff and often flooding, especially in the mountain and desert areas. On Thursday a 4-year-old Bedouin boy was swept away and drowned by a flash flood near Arad in the Negev, and 9 hikers had to be rescued when floods cut them off. On the other side of the Dead Sea, in Jordan, some 44 people, mostly middle school children on a school trip, were swept away by a flash flood. The death toll stands at 18 but this may yet rise as some are still missing. Jordan called upon Israel to help and our elite military rescue unit flew in and helped with the search during the night. 

In the South, in and around the Gaza Strip, there has also been a different kind of rain this weekend. The word 'Yoreh' has a second meaning in Hebrew, namely the verb 'to shoot'. The southern Israeli towns around the Strip were hit with 34 rockets over the last 24 hours, and the IDF responded by striking some 87 Hamas and 8 Islamic Jihad military targets in the Gaza Strip, including the building used by Hamas as its Security Headquarters. In this volley of rockets, seven Israelis were lightly injured, mostly suffering from shock. There has been no rocket fire from Gaza now for about 8 hours but we are still on high alert and residents in the south are under Rear Command orders to remain close to their bomb shelters. 

Yesterday, Friday, there were reports that Israel and Hamas had with the help of Egyptian intervention reached a ceasefire agreement. As part of this agreement Hamas had undertaken to stop the weekly border protests and the incendiary attacks completely in return for the reopening of the border crossings and other concessions by Israel.  In spite of these reports,  some 16,000 'demonstrators' gathered at the border fence yesterday, burning tires, throwing grenades, Molotov cocktails and rocks at IDF positions, attempting to break through the border fence and releasing incendiary balloons.  As a result, 3 Palestinians were killed as Israeli troops fired on them. Two others were killed during riots in the West Bank. 

Islamic Jihad is saying that last night's rocket attacks were in retaliation for these deaths. If this represents a new policy on both sides then the situation is bound to continue to escalate over the coming weeks. Here in Israel there is growing anger and frustration about the situation, especially amongst residents of the south. It seems clear that life in the south is becoming intolerable that this situation cannot continue much longer, but the alternative, all-out war against Hamas and Islamic Jihad, also seems unthinkable. Such a war would cause many casualties and much suffering on both sides of the fence, and it is unclear what would be the end result. Would it trigger a wider conflict involving Hezbollah, Syria and Iran? Even if that did not happen and Israel conquers Gaza again, there is no way we want to occupy the Strip or have the responsibility of ruling the population there. 

As I write news is coming in of another incident of 'yoreh' (shooting), this time in a synagogue in Pittsburgh, USA. The shooter (yoreh) shouted 'All  the Jews must die' as he opened fire in the synagogue during Shabbat prayers, killing 11 people, including 3 police responders, and injuring many others.

I am reminded of the passage in Jeremiah 16 which speaks of the time when God will send hunters to hunt out the children of Israel and cause them to flee to the Land.  

"Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that it shall no more be said, ‘The Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’  but, ‘The Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.’ For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers. “Behold, I will send for many fishermen,” says the Lord, “and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks. 

Jeremiah 16: 14-16

In recent years we have seen an upsurge in immigration, especially from the USA and Europe, motivated by fear of the increasing AntiSemitism worldwide. In former years many 'fishermen' went out around the world to convince Jews to return to the Land and many responded, but many did not, especially those Jews living comfortably in the Americas and Europe.  With the rise of AntiSemitism and the 'hunters' becoming active, more and more are fearing for their safety and seeking to come to Israel. 

When I wrote my last blog update I spoke about the missile strike which destroyed a house in Beer Sheva (Beersheba). Another missile was also fired at the same time but it fell in the sea. At that time it was believed that Islamic Jihad had been responsible for firing those rockets, but both Hamas and the IJ denied any responsibility. Later they claimed that lightning had set off the missiles. It seemed a bit far-fetched but there were several lightning strikes in the area at the time,  and eventually the IDF came to accept this explanation. It however begs the question, why were the two missiles primed and aimed at Israel in the first place? Lightning could not trigger a firing if the missiles were not already armed and primed. No one is asking that question, it seems. 

Earlier this week, on Wednesday night, three rockets were fired into Israel from the Gaza strip. It was a little harder to blame lightning in that case, although no one claimed responsibility. In contrast, after just the first volley of rockets on Friday night, Islamic Jihad quickly claimed responsibility. IDF sources believe that Hamas was against this rocket fire and that Islamic Jihad had been instructed to carry out this attack by Iran and Syria, in order to sabotage the ceasefire. In spite of this, Israel holds Hamas, as the reigning entity, responsible for all attacks emanating from the Strip.

Prayer points:

1. Pray for the recovery of the wounded in the synagogue attack in the USA and for those who have lost loved ones. 
2. Pray for the people of southern Israel who are living under intolerable conditions with the constant threat of rocket fire and incendiary balloons. Pray especially for the children, almost all of whom suffer from trauma symptoms. 
3. Pray for the people of Gaza who are suffering greatly because their leaders do not care about their welfare. Pray for the revelation of Truth and Yeshua (Jesus) in their midst. 
4. Pray for wisdom for our leaders and that they will act according to God's will.
5. Pray too for the local elections coming up this week, on Tuesday, especially for the crucial appointment of a new mayor in Jerusalem. 
6. Pray that the people of Israel will love the LORD their God with all their hearts and serve Him, so that we will all enjoy an abundance of rain this winter, ending the 5-year drought.  

STORM CLOUDS GATHER

HOLOCAUST DAY AND MEMORIAL DAY

It has been a month of ups and downs in Israel. On the 11-12th we marked Holocaust Remembrance Day remembering the 6 million Jews killed during the Holocaust, and on the 17-18th Memorial Day honoring the 23,646  killed in Israel's wars and terror attacks since 1860. These are solemn days and personal times of grief as every Israeli has been touched by these tragedies, by the loss of family members or friends. We are a small nation and at times like these there is a strong sense of family as we come together to mourn and support one another. In every town, kibbutz, moshav or city ceremonies of remembrance are held. The names those who perished are read out and torches are lit. When the sirens sound all traffic and activity stops and we as a nation stand together in silence as a mark of respect for those who have died.   

As the sirens blare motorists stop on the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv and stand at attention in respect on Holocaust Day
https://www.vosizneias.com/295226/2018/04/12/jerusalem-sirens-wail-as-israel-stands-still-for-holocaust-remembrance/

ISRAEL'S 70TH INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS

The day after Memorial Day sorrow was replaced by the joy of celebrating Israel's 70th Independence Day on the 18-19th. We gathered for ceremonies, watched firework displays, and held street parties. Many enjoyed the annual Air Force flyover,  and joined friends and family for the traditional barbecue rejoicing in the perfect spring day in Israel's wonderful parks, forests and beaches. 

Independence Day celebrations
https://www.timesofisrael.com/somber-memorial-day-gives-way-to-israels-70th-independence-day-festivities/

 We can join King David who declared:

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up,

And have not let my foes rejoice over me.

O Lord my God, I cried out to You,

And You healed me.

 

O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave;

You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

 

To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit...

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

 

To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Psalm 30: 1-3; 11-12 

A FEROCIOUS UNSEASONAL  STORM

 Last week Israel experienced a freak storm system with heavy thunderstorms, torrential rain and hail affecting the whole country. Usually by this time of the year the rains have more or less petered out and summer is getting underway. In my more than 35 years in Israel, I cannot remember a storm like this in April.  On Wednesday (25/4) there were floods in many places.  Two teenagers were killed in flash floods in separate incidents. One was swept away from near his home in a Bedouin encampment near Mamshit in the Negev, and the second while she was tending her sheep near Maaleh Amos south of Bethlehem. All over the country, roads turned into torrents of water and many vehicles were flooded or swept away. Many people had to be plucked from flooded cars, and some 62 school children had to be rescued from buses trapped by floodwaters while on school trips. In Rishon Lezion the roof of a shopping mall collapsed causing serious flooding inside. In Arad, golf-ball sized hail struck and in Jerusalem a number of streets flooded including Jaffa Road which resembled a river.  Here in Mevasseret we escaped serious problems, just catching the edge of the storm at its worst.  
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5241033,00.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/teen-killed-in-flash-flood-as-storm-hail-batters-israel/   https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5242124,00.html
https://www.sott.net/article/383914-Two-killed-as-flash-floods-hit-Israel-and-West-Bank

Israelis watch flooded water running through a valley blocking the main road along the Dead Sea in the Judean desert, near the desert fortress of Masada north of Ein Bokek, following heavy rainfall in the mountains on April 25, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / MENAHEM KAHANA

A flash flood in the Negev showing why they are so dangerous - they come down as a wall of semisolid mud and stones.
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5242124,00.html

The greatest tragedy of the storm occurred however on the following day, Thursday (26/4).  Ten teenagers were killed when they were swept away by a flash flood in a wadi while they were on a school trip. Seventeen others were rescued by emergency rescue teams, suffering bruises and mild hypothermia, and two were hospitalized with light to medium injuries. The students were from the Bnei Zion pre-military academy school,  and were on a two-day bonding trip in the southern Dead Sea region. The question on everyone's lips is why were they hiking in a wadi, Zafit Stream, which has sheer canyon walls, when there were severe weather and flash flood warnings. Every Israeli should know how dangerous it is. Every year there are deaths because of flash floods in the desert. The trip should never have gone ahead. Police are investigating and already the Principal of the school and the senior guide have been arrested and may face charges of criminal negligence or negligent manslaughter. I have organized and led many school trips, and at times have had to cancel them for fear of flash floods, therefore I can identify with the staff of the school and the guides who must be suffering greatly as a result of this terrible incident. However it seems that bad decisions were made which put the students unnecessarily in danger and resulted in this tragedy. Pray for the parents, friends and fellow students as they grieve for the loss of these wonderful teenagers, the creme of the crop, who have been cut off before they blossomed into their full potential. One of the dead, Tzur Alfi, who dreamed of a career in search and rescue, could have saved himself but instead pulled several others out of the flood, letting them climb over him, until he himself was drowned. He died a hero but how many others would he have been able to save had his dreams been realized and not cut so tragically short. 

 The ten teenagers killed in flash flood
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5243025,00.html

Searches are still continuing for a 13th victim of the flooding, the driver of a lorry found tipped over in flood waters in Nahal Zin. He is presumed dead and his body has probably been washed down to the Dead Sea or is buried under rubble and mud along the riverbed somewhere. 

Although the loss of life was terrible I think we can thank God it wasn't worse, considering the degree and ferocity of flooding. The rescue services were working full time to pull people out of flooded cars and rescue those trapped by rising water. In many places there were flash floods, and not just in the desert. In Jerusalem on Thursday afternoon,  20mm of rain fell in the space of 40 minutes turning one of Jerusalem's most famous streets, Nachalat Sheva, into a raging torrent. You can see it on this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koXiSyBkgqk

As I am writing an easterly sharav wind is blowing in from the desert bringing temperatures into the 30's (Celsius), dust storms and I can hear thunderstorms to the south, probably bringing more flash flooding.  I hope there will be no more casualties. While sharavs are common in Spring it is very unusual to be still getting rain in May, but after a very dry winter every drop is needed and we are not complaining. 

WAR CLOUDS GATHER

Of more concern are the gathering of a different kind of cloud, the clouds of war.  Over the past weeks tensions with Iran have continued to grow and war could break out at any minute. For many years we have been warning the world that this is going to happen, and perhaps we have been seen as 'crying wolf' too many times. Even here in Israel there is a sort of unreality about it. We have lived so long with this threat it has become a normal background refrain that we don't quite believe anymore. Yet the signs are real enough and war does seem imminent and inevitable at this point. 

On Sunday the 1st of April (not an April Fools joke!) a military facility housing the 47th Brigade of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syria was attacked by missiles fired from F-15 planes. At least 25 military personnel were killed, the majority being Iranian military officials. According to the New York Times some 200 missiles were destroyed, including ground-to air-missiles supplied by Iran in preparation for an attack on Israel. Syrian rebels claim that some of the arms caches struck in the attack held chemical weapons. Most parties assume that it was Israel that carried out the attack but this has not been verified by the Israeli authorities (1). 

Since this attack tensions between Israel and Iran have increased with threats and counterthreats being exchanged on a daily basis. Iran is promising to attack Israel in retaliation at a time and place of its own choosing. If such an attack occurs, then Israel will be forced into a counter-attack which could throw the whole region, if not the whole world, into a vicious war. There is no way that Iran can back down without losing face and therefore such a confrontation seems inevitable. 

Any war between Israel and Iran will result in massive destruction and loss of life for both nations, and perhaps many others too. The Bible promises that any nation that attacks Israel will be destroyed, and this has held true throughout history. If Iran attacks Israel they are signing their own death warrant. No one wants that. Israel has no quarrel with the Iranian people who mostly are unaware of what their dictatorial government is doing and would not support it if they knew.  God said that 

 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed,  and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. 

Jeremiah 18 : 7-8

Even now, if Iran will repent of its evil intentions its destruction can be prevented. God is moving by his Spirit in the nation of Iran and many there are being saved. Please pray for Iran that it can be saved before it is too late. Pray too for the courageous believers in Iran that they may be strengthened, and that their needs will be met. Perhaps God will have mercy on their nation. 

Having said that, any kind of repentance on a national scale in Iran seems unlikely and we must prepare for war. Reports are that the IDF is making preparations and is watching the situation intensely. I am somewhat concerned though that there seems to be little preparation on the home front in Israel. Prior to previous wars we were supplied with gas masks and instructed to prepare shelters and lay up provisions. With the exception of Haifa (perhaps the most likely first target), we have received no such instructions, nor have gas masks been distributed. Please pray that the Home Front Command will prepare the general populace appropriately. Pray we will all take this seriously and make provision on a personal level, making sure our shelters are cleared of junk (they tend to be used as storage spaces), and our homes stocked with water and food.  Perhaps more importantly, please pray we will be ready spiritually.  The passage in Jeremiah that I quoted above is actually addressed to Israel (although the principle applies to any nation). If Israel will repent of her sin and turn to her God, then God will stop this coming disaster. There always remains hope. 

CAPTURED IRANIAN ARCHIVE REVEALED

By the 12th of May  U.S. President Trump is expected to make a decision on whether to withdraw from the current agreement with Iran regarding its development of nuclear weapons. Two days ago Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, made a presentation on national television revealing that the Israeli intelligence organization, the Mossad, had acquired a huge repository of archived Iranian files which clearly show that Iran has consistently lied to the world about its nuclear program in claiming it was not developing nuclear weapons. The huge cache of files clearly show otherwise. You can see the whole presentation ( 20 minutes in length), in English, on 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qBt4tSCALA

THE OPENING OF THE US EMBASSY IN JERUSALEM, NAKBA DAY AND RAMADAN

Reports are that President Trump will come to Israel for the official opening of the American Embassy in Jerusalem which is to take place on the 15th of May. The timing is significant and perhaps ominous. It is the same day as the 70th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of Israel according to the Julian Calendar, and therefore also Nakba Day, the day Palestinian Arabs express their rage and protest. It is also the start of the Muslim month of Ramadan, the annual fast period.  

For five weeks now there have been protests along the border fence with Gaza threatening to penetrate the fence and invade Israel. Although the numbers of people participating in these demonstrations have decreased with time, the violence and attempts to penetrate the fence are escalating. This last Friday dozens broke through the fence and entered Israeli territory less than a kilometer from Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Some of these Gazans were carrying guns and at least two of them opened fire on Israeli troops. Israeli forces responded with rubber bullets and sniper fire, and four Gazans were killed, bringing the death toll to 45 and the number of injured to around 1500 since the protests began, according to the Gazan Health Ministry. No Israelis have been seriously injured or killed to date (4). 

The intensity of the Gaza border protests can be expected to rise and reach a climax as we approach the convergence of the US Embassy move, Nakba Day and the beginning of Ramadan on the 15th of May. Hamas is planning a mass storming of the Gaza border fence, with the intention of breaking it down and invading Israel on that day (4).  Please pray that this will not succeed, that there will be no further casualties on either side and that peace will reign along our border. Pray too for the safety of our forces and the civilian population in the area. 

It looks like May 2018 will be an interesting month and perhaps one that will change world history. Please be diligent in prayer and particularly pray for Israel at this time, that God's Will will be done;

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:10.

1. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5248205,00.html
2. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5248271,00.html
3. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5247970,00.html
4. https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Israel-uses-tear-gas-on-Gaza-protesters-amid-UN-condemnation-552903